Portable electric lighting outfit



Aug 11, 1931- R. EcKsTElN 1,818,884

I PORTABLE ELECTRIC LIGHTING OUTFIT Filed Jan. 7, 1929 Patented Aug. 11, `1931 UNITED STAT-Es PATENT OFFICE `REUIBEN ECKSTEIN, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

PORTABLE ELECTRIC LIGHTING OUTFIT Applicationiled January 7, 1929. Serial No. 330,774.

This invention relates to electric lighting ets connected in series and parallel circuit, sets. More particularly the invention is direspectively, constructed to embody the inrected to portable lighting outfits for disvention. play and ornamental illumination such as Fig. 3 is a cross sectional view taken 5 used for i interior, exterior, show windows through one of the improved assembled lamp 55 and Christmas tree decorative lighting and sockets showing interior construction. other like purposes. Fig. 4 is a cross sectional view similar to One Aobject of the ninvention is to provide Fig. 3 showing the parts separated ready an improved electric lighting outfit confor assembly.

struction in which the parts thereof may be Fig. 5 is a top plan view of the improved 0 sold separately and readily assembled in lamp socket showing with the cover memseries or parallel circuit by even unskilled ber removed. y i y persons. Figs. 6, 7 and 8 are fragmentary views Another object of the invention is to proshowing various types of solderless connecvide in a portable lighting outfit of the chartions of improved lamp socket terminals acter described,v lamp sockets having imwith conductor wires embodying the inven- Aproved solderless connection means for j oiiition, and ing said sockets to the conductor wires, Fig. 9 is a fragmentary cross-sectional which shall permit varying the spacing and view taken through another modified connumber of the sockets in circuit to suit the struction of the improved lamp socket. 70 requirement of installation and. also shall Referring in detail to the drawings, 10 provide ready means for repositioning and denotes decorative lightingv outfits con rearranging the circuit parts from an origstructed to embody the invention which are inal assembly. seen to comprise a plurality of miniature A further object, of the invention is to lamp sockets 11 connected either in series 75 provide an improved portable lighting out- 0r parallel circuit as shown in Figs. 1 and fit of the character described comprising few 2, respectively, by flexible conductors 12. and simple parts which shall be cheap to The latter are preferably formed with a core manufacture and practical and eflicient to of strand wires 12a having a suitable insua high degree in use. lating covering 12b'of any well understood 80 Other objects of this invention will in construction. part be obvious and in part hereinafter The free ends of the circuit conductors pointed out. 12 have applied ,thereto a plug cap 13 of Certain features herein shown and deany conventional make for attaching the scribed are shown, described and claimed outfit 10 to a suitable power supply (not 95 in my (zo-pending apphCatIOIl SGIlal NO- shown) in the well understood mannen" 323,116- filed Dec. 1, 1928 A feature ofthe invention is the improved The 1I1VI1t1011 aCCOIhnglY consist? 1n the construction of said outfit whereby the lamp 40 faturets 0f dCOIlStI'UCtlOn,tconbllog sockets can be interchanged, replaced, selec- 69111611 S im M I'angenen 0 P r tively spaced, and form separate complete will be exemplified in the constructions units which are a .l d l 'hereinafter described and of which the bled said sockets ebesilnfy; szililnplgutl cgnfiiiriii scope of application will be indicated in the Circuit Without requirn-g a high degree of followinor claims. In thefaccompanyng drawings, in which mechanical or electric skill. To this end, 95

is shown various possible illustrative 'emthe Current? Calylnf Parts 0f the SOCketS bodiments of this nvento have terminals of improved construction Figs. 1 and 2 are front elevational views, HOVelly 1I1COIpOI'ated therewith for engaging partly diagrammatic, showing portable decand electrically connecting with the con- -orative lighting outfits with the lamp sockductor Wires whereby the sockets may be 100- positioned in any desired spaced relation to suit the requirement of the installation.

The socket 11 may comprise a suitable bre or molded insulating casing 15 having a chamber 150 extending in from an open end 15a thereof, said casing being formed with a closed end wall 15b at the bottom of said chamber. Snugly fitted into the chamber 15@ there is a metallic screw contact shell 17 which is adapted to receive the base of a miniature lamp, indicated at L in dotted lines. See Fig. 3.

The shell 17 at its inner end has a flange portion 17m against which abuts an insulated disc or washer 18. The shell 17, by means of the washer 18, is anchored to the casing wall 15b preferably by means of the screw 20 which extends centrally through said washer and wall.

Connected to or integrally formed with the shell flange portion 17 a there is a flexible terminal 21 which extends through a wall passage 150I at a spaced distance from the screw 20.

A similar terminal 22 extends through another wall passage 15d, located on the opposite side of the screw 2O with respect to the wall passage 150, to separatet-he terminals as much as possible. Said terminal 22 forms one end of a central current carrying member 23, the middle portion 23a of said member being adapted to lie between the washer 18 and the wall 15b and secured by the screw 20 as lis clearly shown in Fig. 3. The end of the member opposite the terminal 22 extends through the washer 18 and is bent to form the center spring contact 24 for the socket 1\1, the latter extending over the head 20a of the screw 20.

The exterior side of the casing Wall 15b may be recessed as at 15e to receive the terminals 21 and 22 and a cover member 25 of fibre, molded orother suitable insulating material is provided for enclosing the live exposed terminal connections. The wall of said recess 15e may be formed with spaced communicating grooves 15/'I through which will now be apparent. With the sockets 11,v

conductors 12 and cap plug 13 constructed to form separate units as shown in the drawing, the outfit is assembled with the sockets selectively spaced along the conductors to suit the requirements of the installation. i

Each socket is connected in circuit by simply-removing a small portion ofthe insulating covering 125 of the conductor so that the terminals 21 or 22 bend about the bared strand wires 12a; electrically contact therewith. To insure positive electrical connection, a pin 27 may be provided for inserting through the bight 21a of the bent terminal 21 and in between the wire strands 12a as is clearly shown in Figs. 3 and 1. The cover member 25 is then applied for clamping the socket to the conductors, said member then encloses the live current carrying parts and also retains the pins 27 'from becoming displaced.

It should be noted that in the improved outfit 10 the sockets 11 may thus readily' be replaced, spaced in any desired uniform or uli-uniform distance apart or interconnected in series or multiple circuits, any bare and exposed wire strands being taped in the well. understood manner.

In Figs. 7 and 8 modified forms of socket terminals and connections are shown.

In Fig. 7, the terminal 121 comprises a bendable pointed prong. Said prong is preferably inserted into a passagel pierced through the insulating covering 12b of a conductor for electrically contacting with the strand wires 12a. rllhe prong is preferably made relatively wide to present a substantial large contact surface and when inserted with a bend 121@ said terminal serves to anchor itself to the conductor. i

The modification shown in Fig. 8 differs from that described above and shown in Fig. 7 in that the terminal 221 comprises a bendl able double pointed prong. rFhe latter is preferably inserted between bared strand wires 12b of the conductor 12 and the prong ends 221a and 2215 bent about said wires in relatively opposite directions to form a substantial double-hooked anchoring connection of the terminal 221 with the conductor 12.

Fig. 9 illustrates another assembly of the current carrying members in the socket 11. Here the central current carrying member 23 is positioned to abut the exposed side of the washer 18 and is held in position under the screw head 20a instead of being located between the washer 18 and casing wall 15b as shown in Fig. 3.

It will thus be seen that there is provided devices in which the several objects of this invention are achieved and which are welll adapted to meet the conditions of .practical use.

As various possible embodiments might be made of the above invention, and as various changes might be made in the embodiment above set forth, it is to be understood that all matters herein set forth or shown in the accompanying drawings are to be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

Having thus described my invention, I

ICO

claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent:

l. Ina lamp socket construction of the character described, a tubular insulating casing having a closed end wall, a contact shell mounted in the casing, an insulating washer engagingsaid shell with the end wall, a screw extending through said washer and end wall for securing the shell against displacement, a center contact secured by said screw, a cover member, said-screw engaging said member for clamping the flexible conductor wires between the latter and the casing and bendable terminals integral with and extending from th'e center and shell contacts for engaging about and connecting with said conductor wires.

2. In a lamp socket construction of the character described, a tubular insulating casing having a closed end wall, a contact -shell mounted in the casing, an insulating washer engaging said shell with the end wall, a screw extending through said Washer and end wall for securing the shell against displacement, a center contact secured by said screw, a cover member, said screw engaging said member for clamping the flexible conductor wires between the latter and the casing and bendable terminals integrally formed to extend from the center and shell contacts to provide a hooked anchorage and electrical connection with the conductors. f

In testimony whereof I aiix my signature.

REUBEN ECKSTEIN. 

